1835.] EFFECTS OF MOUNTAIN TORRENTS. 315 



to the geologist ; the thousands and thousands or stones, 

 which, striking against each other, made the one dull 

 uniform sound, were all hurrying in one direction. It was 

 like thinking on time, where the minute that now glides 

 past is irrecoverable. So was it with these stones ; the ocean 

 is their eternity, and each note of that wild music told of 

 one more step towards their destiny. 



It is not possible for the mind to comprehend, except by 

 a slow process, any effect which is produced by a cause 

 repeated so often,, that the multiplier itself conveys an idea, 

 not more definite than the savage implies when he points to 

 the hairs of his head. As often as I have seen beds of mud, 

 sand, and shingle accumulated to the thickness of many 

 thousand feet, 1 have felt inclined to exclaim that causes, 

 such as the present rivers and the present beaches, could 

 never have ground down and produced such masses. But, 

 on the other hand, when listening to the rattling noise ot 

 these torrents, and calling to mind that whole races of 

 animals have passed away from the face of the earth, and 

 that during this whole period, night and day, these stones 

 have gone rattling onwards in their course, I have thought 

 to myself, can any mountains, any continent, withstand 

 such waste ? 



In this part of the valley, the mountains on each side 

 were from 3000 to 6000 or 8000 feet high, with rounded 

 outlines and steep bare flanks. The general colour of the 

 rock was dullish purple, and the stratification very distinct. 

 If the scenery was not beautiful, it was remarkable and 

 grand. We met during the day several herds of cattle, 

 which men were driving down from the higher valleys in 

 the Cordillera. This sign of the approaching winter hurried 

 our steps, more than was convenient for geologising. The 

 house where we slept was situated at the foot of ;l 

 mountain, on the summit of which are the mines of San 

 Pedro de Nolasko. Sir F. Head marvels how mines have 

 been discovered in such extraordinary situations, as the 

 bleak summit of the mountain of San Pedro de Nolasko. 

 In the first place, metallic veins in this countiy are generally 

 harder than the surrounding strata : hence, during the 

 gradual wear of the hills, they project above the surfat (^ 

 of the ground. .Secondly, almost every labourer, especial l\ 

 in the northern parts of Chile, understands somethin; 

 about the appearance of ores. In the great mining.; 

 provinces of Coquimbo and Copiap6, firewood is very 



